Defiler gets 29 years in jail

THE High Court in Jinja district on Monday sentenced a man to 29 years in prison for aggravated defilement. John Othieno was sentenced for defiling a 15-year-old girl.

By Doreen Musingo

THE High Court in Jinja district on Monday sentenced a man to 29 years in prison for aggravated defilement. John Othieno was sentenced for defiling a 15-year-old girl.

Othieno committed the offence the girlâ€™s one-room home in Polota village in Kakira sub-county. The minor, who was defiled on April 11 2009, testified that on the fateful day, she went to bed early with her sister.

â€œI locked the door of our one-room house where I used to sleep with my elder sister. l suspect that Othieno had already sneaked into the house and hidden under the bed. He covered my mouth and eyes with his shirt before defiling me,â€ the girl told court said.

â€œThe security lights that were shinning through the ventilators and the window glasses were enough for me to recognise him,â€ she added.

Nassuna added that neighbours, among them her cousin, came to her rescue on hearing the alarm she made and managed to run after Othieno, who had no shirt on since he had left it behind. He was arrested that morning and detained at Kakira Police post.

â€œSince then, I have only taken one HIV test. I am scared of taking another one for fear that the results are more likely to change. Othieno is being pointed at as a carrier of the HIV disease in the village,â€ she told court. Othieno was later tested on court directives and confirmed to be HIV positive.

Othieno, who apologized before the court for the act, pleaded for a lighter sentence so that he could look after his family and continue with his treatment.

However, Justice Elizabeth Ibanda Nahamya, who presided over the court session, said imprisoning Othieno would create a conducive enviroment for the potential victims not to live in fear of being assaulted by search monsters.

She advised Nassunaâ€™s relatives to take her for counselling and another blood test to confirm her HIV status.